Extendable sailboat mast

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for use to raise and lower a sailboat mast are described. A channel ( 101 ) in a base ( 103 ) complements and is capable of receiving a guide ( 105 ) of a mast ( 107 ) that is slideably mounted inside the base ( 103 ). A gear ( 111 ) having a handle ( 113 ) is operably connected to a plurality of teeth ( 109 ) that run longitudinally down the length of guide ( 105 ). A bracket ( 115 ) attaches the gear ( 111 ) to the base ( 103 ). In an embodiment of the invention, a wheel ( 409 ) that is attached to bracket ( 413 ) engages a second guide ( 405 ) so as to support the mast ( 407 ) by acting to counter forces applied to and by the gear ( 111 ) during mast ( 407 ) raising and lowering.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

The present invention does not involve any form of federally sponsoredresearch or development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sailboats, including, but not limitedto, an extendable mast for use with different types of masts and varyingsailing conditions. Devices and methods for raising and lowering masts,such as those commonly used for sailboats, are known. Sailboats operateunder a variety of ambient conditions and for a variety of purposes.Weather conditions can include hot days that have low winds speeds orcold days with high wind speeds. Competitive sailing can demand highsailing speeds that require large and often special sails such as jibs,spinnakers, and so forth can be used. Pleasure sailing at slower speedsoften requires smaller sails. Because of varying weather condition andmultiple uses of a sailboat, it is desirable to be able to easily changesail type and how the sail is deployed.

The size and shape of a sail can be changed by raising and lowering themast to which the sail is attached. In addition, different types ofsails can be interchanged to change the sail shape, size, and heightneeded for desired sailboat performance. Raising and lowering a givensail can be an important consideration. Movable masts that includetelescoping members or include adjacent mast members have been used toraise and lower sails. Telescoping mast members are typically connectedto mechanisms such as worm gears, rack and pinion, and screws that areused to raise and lower masts. Adjacent mast members are typicallyconnected to pulley and screw mechanisms for raising and loweringsailboat masts. Binding or misalignments of the mast members and theoperating mechanisms can make raising and lowering the masts difficultand time consuming.

Accordingly, there is a need for a retractable sailboat mast, which mastreduces the difficulty with and the time required for raising andlowering the sail of a sailboat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sailboat mast and method for use in raising and lowering a sail of asailboat are provided. The sailboat mast includes a base having alongitudinal channel, a mast slideably mounted inside the base andhaving a guide that complements and is capable of being accepted in thechannel, and a gear mechanism attached to the base and operablyconnected to the guide. In a method of the present invention, a sail isattached to the mast, and the mast is raised and lowered to a desiredposition by operating a crank mechanism that is operably connected tothe mast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a mast having a guide wherein the mastis slideably mounted inside a base having a channel for the guide inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of a mast having a guide wherein the mastis slideably mounted inside a base having a channel for the guide inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mast having a guidewherein the mast is slideably mounted inside a base having a channel forthe guide in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an embodiment having a second guideattached to the mast, and an opposing wheel in contact with the secondguide in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment having asecond guide attached to the mast, and an opposing wheel in contact withthe second guide in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an embodiment having a groove in themast and an opposing wheel mounted in contact with the groove inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment having agroove in the mast and an opposing wheel mounted in contact with thegroove in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram for a method for use in raising orlowering a mast having a sail attached in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following describes an apparatus and method for use in raising andlowering a sailboat mast. The sailboat mast includes a mast that isslideably mounted inside a base such that the mast telescopes into thebase. A guide that is attached to the mast and has a plurality of teethfits into a channel in the base. A gear mechanism that is attached tothe base and operably connected to the teeth on the guide raises andlowers the sailboat mast.

A side view of a mast 107 having a guide 105 wherein the mast 107 isslideably mounted inside a base 103 having a channel 101 for the guide105 is shown in FIG. 1. A rear view of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 2,while a cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 3.

The channel 101 attached to the base 103 extends down the length of thebase 103. A guide 105 attached to the mast 107 extends down the lengthof the mast 107. The mast 105 slideably fits inside the base 103 suchthat the guide 105 is accepted into the channel 101. The base 103 has agenerally hollow cylindrical shape that generally complements the shapeof the mast 107. Generally, the mast 107 is a hollow cylindrical.Alternatively, the base and the mast can have other complementary shapeswhere for example the cross-sections are triangles, square, polygons,curved shapes, and so forth.

A plurality of teeth 109 attached to the guide 105 is operably connectedto a gear 111. In this embodiment the gear 111 is part of a gearmechanism that is used to raise and lower the mast 107. For theembodiment the gear mechanism is operated by turned a handle 113 that isattached to the gear 111. More generally, the gear mechanism includes atleast one gear, such that the gear mechanism can include multiple gears.Alternatively, the gear mechanism can be any types of mechanism thatdrive longitudinal movement such as screws, worm gears, rack andpinions, and so forth can be used. The gear 111 extends through an open117 in the channel so as to engage the teeth 109. A bracket 115 securesthe gear 111 to the base 103. Although the bracket 115 is shownpermanently securing the gear 111 to the base 103, alternatively, thebracket 115 can be removably attached to the base 103 so that the gearmechanism can be removed once the mast has been raised or lower to adesired position.

A seal 119 attaches to an upper end of the base 103, and slideablyengages the mast 107 so as to form a barrier that resists the enter ofwater. The seal 119 can extend past the upper end of the base 103.Alternatively, the seal 119 can be contained within the upper end of thebase 103 so as to not extend past the upper end of the base 103. A cap121 covers the upper end of the mast 107 and can be formed with acircumferential edge that covers the seal 119 when the mast 107 is fullyretracted into the base 103. The cap 121 can include a grommet (notshown) or other sail attaching device. Alternatively, a sail attachingdevice can be part of the mast 107.

The base 103 can be attached to a single boat surface or can besupported by more than one surface. For example, the base 103 canattached to a surface such as a deck 123. Alternatively, the base 103can extend through and be support by the deck 123 while being attachedto a bottom surface such as a sailboat bottom 125.

The mast 107 is raised and lowered by turning the handle 113 that isconnected to the gear 111. As the handle 113 moves, the gear 111 rotatesand engages the teeth 109 along the guide 105 such that the mast 107moves longitudinally relative to the base 103. Alternatively, the gear111 can be moved hydraulically, pneumatically, by an electric motor, bya gasoline or diesel engine, by a pulley system, and so forth. Turningthe handle 113 in one direction causes the mast 107 to rise, whileturning the handle 113 in the opposite direction causes the mast 107 tolower. As the mast 107 is raised and lowered the guide 105 passesthrough the channel 101. When the mast 107 reaches a desired position,the mast can be secured in position by a latching mechanism (not shown)such as a pawl that engages the gear 111, installing a pin thattraverses the base 103 and the mast 107, and so forth. When the mast 107is fully retracted the cap 121 can rest upon the seal 119 so as toprovide a protective water-resistant covering for the telescoped mastwhen the sailboat is not in use. Alternatively, if the seal 119 isinside the base 103, the cap 121 may engage the upper end of the base103 instead of the seal 119.

Generally, the various components of the telescoping sailboat mast aremade of lightweight and non-rusting materials such as stainless steel,copper, aluminum, carbon fibers, polymeric material, and so forth.

A side view of an embodiment having a second guide 405 attached to themast 407, and an opposing wheel 409 in contact with the second guide 405is shown in FIG. 4. A cross-sectional view of the embodiment is shown inFIG. 5. The channel 101 attached to the base 403, the guide 105 attachedthe mast 407, teeth 109 attached to the guide 105, and the handle 113attached to the gear 111 that engages the teeth 109 operate as describedabove. A second channel 401 runs longitudinally down the length of thebase 403, and is capable of accepting the second guide 405. The base 403has a generally hollow cylindrical shape that generally complements theshape of the mast 407. Generally, the mast 407 also has a hollowcylindrical shape. Alternatively, the base and the mast can have othercomplementary shapes where for example the cross-sections are triangles,square, polygons, curved shapes, and so forth. The channel 101 and thesecond channel 401 are generally parallel and on opposite sides of thebase 403. Similarly, the toothed guide 105 and the second guide 401 aregenerally parallel and on opposite sides of the mast 407.

An opposing wheel 409 provides lateral support to the mast 407 and isrotatably in contact with the second guide 405 through an opening 411 inthe second channel 401. The opposing wheel 409 counters forces that acton the mast through the gear 111 when the mast is raised and lowered.Typically, the opposing wheel 409 is cylindrical and rotates uniformly.Alternatively, the wheel can be other shapes such as ellipse, ovals, andso forth. In addition, a non-rotating wheel or other object thatsupports and permits the mast to slideably move inside the base can beused.

A bracket 413 secures both the opposing wheel 409 and the gear 111 inposition relative to the base 403. Alternatively, separate brackets canbe used to hold the opposing wheel 409 and the gear 111, respectively,in position. Although the bracket 413 is shown permanently securing boththe opposing wheel 409 and the gear 111 to the base 403, alternatively,the bracket 413 can be removably attached to the base 403 so that thewheel and gear mechanism can be removed once the mast has been raised orlower to a desired position.

A seal 415 attaches to an upper end of the base 403, and slideablyengages the mast 407 so as to form a barrier that resists the enter ofwater. The seal 415 can extend past the upper end of the base 403.Alternatively, the seal 415 can be contained within the upper end of thebase 403 so as to not extend past the upper end of the base 403.

The mast 407 is raised and lowered by turning the gear 111. The rotatinggear 111 engages the teeth 109 along the guide 105 such that the mast407 moves longitudinally relative to the base 403. Turning the handle113 in one direction causes the mast 407 to rise, while turning thehandle 113 in the opposite direction causes the mast 407 to lower. Asthe mast 407 is raised and lowered the guide 105 passes through thechannel 101 while simultaneously the second guide 405 passes through thesecond channel 401. As the mast 407 moves up and down inside the base403, the opposing wheel 409 rolls along the guide 405 while supportingthe mast 407 opposite the gear 111 so as to reduce any tendency ofbinding between the base 403 and the mast 407.

A side view of an embodiment having a groove 605 in a mast 607 and theopposing wheel 409 mounted in contact with the groove 605 is shown inFIG. 6. A cross-sectional view of the embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. Thechannel 101 attached to a base 603, the guide 105 attached the mast 607,teeth 109 attached to the guide 105, the handle 113 attached to the gear111 that engages the teeth 109, and the opposing wheel 409 attached to abracket 611 operate as described above. The groove 605 runslongitudinally down the length of the base 603. The base 603 has agenerally hollow cylindrical shape that generally complements the shapeof the mast 607. The groove 605 and the guide 105 are generally paralleland on opposite sides of the mast 403. The opposing wheel 409 provideslateral support to the mast 607 and is rotatably in contact with thegroove 605 through an opening 601 in the base 602. The opposing wheel409 counters forces that act on the mast 607 through the gear 111 whenthe mast 607 is raised and lowered.

The bracket 611 secures both the opposing wheel 409 and the gear 111 tothe base 603. Alternatively, separate brackets can be used to hold thewheel 409 and the gear 111, respectively. Although the bracket 611 isshown permanently securing both the opposing wheel 409 and the gear 111to the base 603, alternatively, the bracket 611 can be removablyattached to the base 403 so that the wheel and gear mechanism can beremoved once the mast has been raised or lower to a desired position.

A seal 609 attaches to an upper end of the base 603, and slideablyengages the mast 607 so as to form a barrier that resists the enter ofwater. The seal 609 can extend past the upper end of the base 603.Alternatively, the seal 611 can be contained within the upper end of thebase 603 so as to not extend past the upper end of the base 603.

The mast 607 is raised and lowered by turning the gear 111. The rotatinggear 111 engages the teeth 109 along the guide 105 such that the mast607 moves longitudinally relative to the base 603. Turning the handle113 in one direction causes the mast 607 to rise, while turning thehandle 113 in the opposite direction causes the mast 607 to lower. Asthe mast 607 is raised and lowered the guide 105 passes through thechannel 101. As the mast 607 moves up and down inside the base 603, theopposing wheel 409 rolls along the groove 605 while supporting the mast607 opposite the gear 111 so as to reduce any tendency of bindingbetween the base 603 and the mast 607.

A flow diagram that illustrates a method for use in raising and loweringa mast having an attached sail is shown in FIG. 8. At step 801, a sailis attached to the mast 107 such as by a grommet in the cap 121 mountedon the top the mast 107. The sail is raised and lowered at step 803 byoperating the gear 111 that is engaged with a tooted guide 105 such thatthe sail moves in the desired direction. A bracket 115 attaches the gear111 to the base 103. If desired, the bracket 115 and the gear mechanismcan be design to be removable. When the mast 107 and attached sailreaches a desired position, the mast 107 is secured in position at step805 by a latching mechanism such as engaging a pawl with the gear 111,installing a pin that traverses the base 103 and the mast 107, and soforth. At step 807, the sail is removed from the mast 107. The sail canbe removed during a race and replaced with another sail, or the sail maybe removed for storage at the end of sailing.

An advantage of the present invention is the ability to easily andquickly raise and lower sails of a sailboat that are attached to asailboat mast. The use of a mast having a guide that fits inside achannel in the base advantageously reduces binding between the mast andthe base. Binding is advantageously further avoided through the use of aopposing wheel that counter acts forces on the mast caused by theoperation of the gear during the raising and lowering of the mast. Maststhat can be quickly raised and lowered advantageously allow for thequick change out of different types of sails during sailingcompetitions.

Although the present invention is illustrated by the example of a mastfor use with a sail of a sailboat, the present invention may be appliedto masts used for other purposes such as flagpoles, and so forth.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. An apparatus comprising: a base attached to a surface and having atleast one channel that extends longitudinally down the length of thebase; a mast slideably mounted inside the base and having at least oneguide that complements and is capable of being accepted into at leastone of the channels; and a gear mechanism that is mounted to the baseand operably connected to at least one of the guides.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a plurality of teeth attached along thelongitudinal length of one of the guides.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the gear mechanism includes a gear that complements and operablyengages the plurality of teeth on one of the guides.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one groove that extendslongitudinally down the length of the mast.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a support member that is mounted to the base andmovably supports the mast.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein thesupport member is disposed near the gear mechanism.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the support member is operably connected at least oneof the guides.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support memberis operably connected at least one of the grooves.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the gear mechanism is connected to a power source. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seal mounted to an upperend of the base.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a capmounted on an upper end of the mast.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5,further comprising a grommet attached to the cap.
 13. An apparatuscomprising: a base attached to a surface and having a first channel thatextends longitudinally down the length of the base; a mast slideablymounted inside the base and having a first guide to which a plurality ofteeth are attached, wherein the first guide is capable of being acceptedinto the first channel; a support member that is mounted to the base andsupports the mast; and a gear mechanism that is mounted to the base andhaving a gear that is operably connected to the teeth on the firstguide.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a secondchannel that extends longitudinally down the length of the base.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein circumferential positions of the firstchannel and the second channel on the base are approximately one hundredand eighty degrees apart.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, furthercomprising a second guide attached to the mast, wherein the second guidecomplements and is capable of being accepted into the second channel.17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a groove that extendslongitudinally down the length of the mast.
 18. The apparatus of claim13, wherein the support member is disposed near the gear mechanism. 19.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the support member is operablyconnected to the second guide.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, whereinthe support member is operably connected to the groove.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the support member is a wheel.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the gear mechanism is connected to apower source.
 23. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a sealmounted to an upper end of the base.
 24. The apparatus of claim 13,further comprising a cap mounted on an upper end of the mast.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 24, further comprising a grommet attached to the cap.26. A method comprising the steps of: attaching a sail to a first end ofa mast that has a guide and that is slideably mounted inside a base,wherein the guide complements and is accepted into a channel in thebase, and is operably connected to a gear mechanism; operating the gearmechanism that is operably attached to the guide so as to raise andlower the sail; and when the mast is in a desired position, securing themast with a latch mechanism.
 27. The method of claim 26, furthercomprising the step of attaching the gear mechanism to the base by usinga bracket that removably attaches to the base.
 28. The method of claim26, wherein the latch mechanism includes a pin that engages the mast andthe base.